Nonprofit, indie local publishers a bright spot in media
While national media suffer layoffs, it’s a different picture at INN, LION Publishers
The timing for the INN Days conference in Washington DC, last week couldn’t have been better. The Institute for Nonprofit News is on a roll, and so is the sector of both local nonprofit news outlets and for-profit independent news publishers. Both INN and LION Publishers have reported a surge in the number of local news outlets, and their improving financial outlook.
That growth stands in stark contrast to the layoffs and bankruptcies we have been seeing in the media sector as a whole. There have been cuts at Gannett, the Los Angeles Times and The Athletic, while BuzzFeed News shut down and Vice filed for bankruptcy. A recent report from Challenger, Gray & Christmas found that media job cuts in the U.S. in 2023 have been higher than any other year on record.
Amidst that national downturn, we are seeing a true ray of hope in local nonprofits, and you could feel the good vibes at INN Days (not unlike the energy at last fall’s Independent News Sustainability Summit). The local news nonprofit universe was relatively nascent a few years ago, but is now maturing. We are seeing growth in local philanthropy, reader revenue and individual donors – and also an increasing awareness of how important local news is to our democracy.
Here are some supporting data points from the recent release of the INN Index Snapshot Report:
INN membership grew 17 percent from 2021 to 2022, with overall revenues up 19 percent and staffing up 15 percent.
Forty-six percent of INN member newsrooms are focused on local news, with half of them serving communities of 100,000 or less. But that number is rising, as 57 percent of new members in 2020 were local. That number increased to 65 percent in 2021.
Among the 52 news outlets that reported “earned revenues” (sponsorships, events, etc.), that revenue stream was up 37 percent overall.
Those numbers show that nonprofit news is coalescing as a sector.
But it’s not just nonprofits. LION Publishers announced last month it was seeing similar growth to its membership (mostly for-profits) and their revenue. Median publisher revenue for 2022 was $130,000, up from $125,000 the previous year, with renewing members seeing an increase of 28 percent. Advertising dependence was down and reader revenue was up, with 34 percent of members selling subscriptions or memberships.
We’ve all suffered through too many media conferences filled with news of layoffs, business contraction and closing publications. The positivity at INN Days was a real contrast to those convenings, and shows how local news is becoming more inclusive, more sustainable and ultimately more meaningful to the communities the newsrooms serve.
Other news around the horn…
Research
🗞️ Survey shows desire for local news that’s really local. News publishers often make decisions based on their own hunches without bringing in the communities they serve. The American Journalism Project (AJP) surveyed nearly 5,000 people in eight local markets across the country to find out what they want from local news. The results are striking: They want local news about their neighborhood; they want to get the full story from a trusted source of facts; and they want to see themselves in the news and in the newsroom. Most of all, people want journalists to be part of the community and provide convenings. “People want information exchange, not just consumption,” wrote AJP’s Loretta Chao. “It’s just as important to them that reporters spend time in local neighborhoods to learn from local residents as it is for reporters to inform residents.”
🗣️ People have lost trust in news, but not news people. Last year, the highest percentage ever of Americans – 50 percent – said they had no trust in the news media. But a new survey from Gallup and Knight finds that nine in 10 people say they follow one “public individual” for news and information, and 79 percent trust the person they follow most. But what’s interesting is that only 16 percent get news and information from social media influencers, with the vast majority mentioning folks on cable TV, newspapers and magazines. In other words, people prefer certain individuals for being likable, trustworthy and offering alternative views, but most of those people work in the news industry. The most mentioned people included Tucker Carlson, Rachel Maddow, Sean Hannity and Trevor Noah. “In an era of widespread institutional distrust, the power of individuals with wide-reaching platforms and loyal audiences is more potent than ever,” the report concludes.
Launches
🏫 Knight, Georgetown launch new research and policy hub. Leaders in government and the tech sector are increasingly seeking actionable insights to inform policy and the design of the technologies we use to create, share, and access information today. A new, $30 million collaboration between Knight and Georgetown University seeks to bridge the gaps between the academy, government and industry. The Knight-Georgetown Institute (KGI) will join the university’s Tech & Society initiative, located in the heart of the nation’s capital. “Through this institute, we aim to bolster scholarly research and dialogue with leaders, paving the way for policies that foster a more informed citizenry capable of discerning its own interests and common good,” said Knight Foundation President Alberto Ibargüen. A search for KGI’s inaugural director is now underway.
Investments
🤑 Google funding, training 1,000 local newsrooms. Meta may have lost interest in supporting journalism, but Google News Initiative (GNI) is countering that. GNI has announced new partnerships with five associations to give out $20,000 in grants and provide business support. For instance, LION Publishers will now be able to award $20,000 for member publishers who undertake a Sustainability Audit. Plus, members of the Institute for Nonprofit News (INN) can sign up for a three month GNI Fundamentals Lab to present a plan for growth that will net them $20,000 each. “Newsrooms that add this audience and revenue training to the fundraising training they receive through INN’s NewsMatch program will be better positioned than ever for sustainability,” said Jonathan Kealing, chief network officer at INN.
📺 Scripps flips the script with investment in reporters. If you think every corporate chain of TV news outlets is thinking small, consider the exception: E.W. Scripps is planning a $10 million expansion of news teams, increasing compensation and adding 250 local reporters at its stations. And it’s not just about staffing. Scripps CEO Adam Symson told employees that stations would have a “sharper focus on the reporting and stories that serve our communities and make the markets where we operate better places to live.” How? Through broadcasts that are more informative than performative, says Symson, who told TVNewsCheck that they would better serve Black and Hispanic audiences with “authentic representations.” If they pull it off, it would be truly transformative in local TV news.
Cohorts Galore
Here’s a rundown of some noteworthy new cohorts:
The Knight Nonprofit News interns include (left to right): Campbell Hamai, Shay Lawson, Yuxi Lei and Moriah McDonald
Knight Nonprofit News interns were announced from the Missouri School of Journalism, with four interns (pictured above) being placed in nonprofit newsrooms for the 10-week program, now partnering with the News Product Alliance to train interns and newsroom managers in product thinking.
Maynard Institute named 49 diverse new fellows for its Maynard 200 Fellowship program, which includes a week of training at Texas Christian University, a week of virtual training, and one-on-one mentorships from industry leaders.
NYU Media Lab announced the next cohort for its AI & Local News Challenge, with six teams receiving $7,500 and mentoring to create prototypes for AI projects over 12 weeks, with a Demo Day at the conclusion.
The Local Media Association announced its fourth cohort of 16 news organizations to join its Lab for Journalism Funding, a six-month intensive program to help them fund reporting through philanthropy.
Training
Demystifying Newsrooms: Building Trust through Transparency
Trusting News
July 10 at 2 pm ET
Online, free
The Creator Economy for Local Journalists
Jenna Spinelle
June 21, June 28, and July 5 at 4 pm ET
$250, online
Fellowships
$10,000 for artists and journalists
Deadline: June 16
Upcoming Events 📅
Orlando
June 22–25
National Association of Hispanic Journalists
Miami
July 12–15
Asian American Journalists Association
Washington, DC
July 19–23
Association of Alternative Newsmedia
Dallas
July 19–21
National Association of Black Journalists
Birmingham, AL
August 2–6
Native American Journalists Association
Winnipeg
August 10–12
Philadelphia
August 23–26
The Association of LGBTQ+ Journalists
Philadelphia
September 7–10
Radio Television Digital News Association
Minneapolis
September 20–22
Military Veterans in Journalism
New York
October 5–7
Tweet of the Week
News @ Knight Credits
Written by Jim Brady, with Mark Glaser
Edited by Jim Brady, Jessica Clark and Kara Pickman